Reel Inn Fresh Fish Restaurant

(310) 456-8221

18661 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265 34.0396 -118.5823

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REELINNMALIBU.COM

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Date Spot, Outdoor Dining

Cuisine:

Chowder, Seafood

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Reel Inn Fresh Fish Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – You can't miss the original PCH outpost, right across from Topanga State Beach--the witty sign scribbled with "Wu Tang Clam" and "Oh My Cod" is definitely eye-catching. Order your meal at the window, then find a comfy spot among the picnic tables. The patio overlooks the highway, but visiting neighborhood cats add a certain charm. – – The Food – Fresh seafood from around the globe is the reason to head to this glorified seaside shack. Steamed green lip mussels overflow from a pail, looking and tasting like they were just brought in from the beach. Although…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
The second Reel Inn, on the Third Street Promenade, is almost an exact replica of the original.
ambiance
87.5% positive
  1. “But it's a friendly, rustic atmosphere with honest prices for fresh fish.”
  2. “casual atmosphere & good seafood”
  3. “Probably could have used a little stronger hand with the tidying but the atmosphere was fresh and funky and definitely screamed Malibu California to a homesick transplant.”
  4. “tried to order crab cakes, and at 4:30 pm on a Saturday, they seemed to have fun out of crab cakes!”
  5. “Its in beautiful Malibu , with a cosy atmosphere.”
  6. “The interior is filled with bench picnic tables giving it some great atmosphere not often found at other Malibu restaurants and the seafood is fresh and abundant.”
  7. “This is probably one of the more passed by restaurants that line the Malibu coast, and that probably has something to do with it's sketchy exterior and rough location next to a skeezy motel.”
  8. “Pretty decent fish in a shack like atmosphere”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “tried to order crab cakes, and at 4:30 pm on a Saturday, they seemed to have fun out of crab cakes!”
  2. “Feelin' like lobster or crab cakes or perhaps a swordfish steak.”
drinks
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Expect to sit in family style picnic tables and plastic chairs, eat good food, drink cold beer and see friendly people swapping stories with a smile.”
food quality
89.91000175476074% positive
  1. “Even my dear old aunt from Indiana enjoyed it -- and she doesn't like seafood!”
  2. “Order your food at the window and grab a table.”
  3. “Great place for fresh fish!”
  4. “You want good cheap fish, goto Wahoo's.”
  5. “For the variety of fresh fish and the great side dishes - I'm never disappointed.”
  6. “Pretty decent fish in a shack like atmosphere”
  7. “Delicious, satisfying soft fish tacos with great fries, coleslaw and cajun rice for only $11!”
  8. “There is often a line to order food especially at peak hours, but your food arrives very quickly once ordered.”
  9. “The fresh lettuce and cheese are great, but yuck on that kind of fish.”
  10. “The french fries were good and the tarter sauce is very flavorful.”
  11. “Very good food.”
  12. “There was plenty of delicately seasoned shrimp hiding in a fluffy omelet stuffed with all kinds of my favorite goodies, a tossed salad and rice.”
  13. “But it's a friendly, rustic atmosphere with honest prices for fresh fish.”
  14. “Great seafood and great prices”
  15. “Probably could have used a little stronger hand with the tidying but the atmosphere was fresh and funky and definitely screamed Malibu California to a homesick transplant.”
  16. “the seafood is fresh and you can pick out what fish you want and they cood it to order.”
  17. “Food is much better value than at competitor Neptunes Net which is super far down the PCH, where $17 gets you a big basket of fries and only a little fish.”
  18. “Terrible: overpriced, and appetizers such as calamari are overly breaded, consisting of bare slivers of meat.”
  19. “casual atmosphere & good seafood”
  20. “The grilled fish looked pretty good.”
  21. “dont eat fried foods, the mahi mahi sandwich was as good as anything I have ever had.”
  22. “The food has always been great and the fish very fresh.”
  23. “have been eating fresh seafood from the north sea to south east asia and this place is as good as any.”
  24. “Okay, my boyfriend loves the fish tacos here and was raving about them.”
  25. “Don't order the fish tacos!”
  26. “Expect to sit in family style picnic tables and plastic chairs, eat good food, drink cold beer and see friendly people swapping stories with a smile.”
  27. “never wanted to go back, but like I said, my boyfriend loves the fish tacos so I gave it one more try.”
  28. “Also tried the fried shrimp which were great if a little pricy.”
  29. “The fish is great; don't waste your time with anything else on the menu.”
  30. “have never had a bad meal there, ever.”
  31. “If you are craving fresh seafood, this is the place to go.”
  32. “The interior is filled with bench picnic tables giving it some great atmosphere not often found at other Malibu restaurants and the seafood is fresh and abundant.”
  33. “The fried food has also been very good since I first went.”
  34. “Inexpensive fresh seafood, well prepared and wide selection.”
  35. “Feelin' like lobster or crab cakes or perhaps a swordfish steak.”
  36. “even planned a suprise birthday party for him there since we loved the food and it had a lot of sentimental value.”
  37. “tried to order crab cakes, and at 4:30 pm on a Saturday, they seemed to have fun out of crab cakes!”
  38. “You tell them how you like it and what you want with it (love the coleslaw, potatoes and the rice) It's casual, you have to go pick up the dishes and take it back to your table.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The fish is great; don't waste your time with anything else on the menu.”
  2. “For the variety of fresh fish and the great side dishes - I'm never disappointed.”
  3. “Inexpensive fresh seafood, well prepared and wide selection.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Reel is ia great place to go if you want to be by the beach.”
  2. “This is a great place to come to after a long day at the beach.”
return potential
50.0% positive
  1. “Love this place and when in the area I will be back.”
  2. “never wanted to go back, but like I said, my boyfriend loves the fish tacos so I gave it one more try.”
service
55.56000232696533% positive
  1. “But it's a friendly, rustic atmosphere with honest prices for fresh fish.”
  2. “The employees are simply rude.”
  3. “Expect to sit in family style picnic tables and plastic chairs, eat good food, drink cold beer and see friendly people swapping stories with a smile.”
value
77.77999877929688% positive
  1. “Huge portions and delish.”
  2. “You want good cheap fish, goto Wahoo's.”
  3. “Reasonable prices?”
  4. “But it's a friendly, rustic atmosphere with honest prices for fresh fish.”
  5. “Great seafood and great prices”
  6. “Beer was cold, slightly more expensive than Neptunes Net.”
  7. “Terrible: overpriced, and appetizers such as calamari are overly breaded, consisting of bare slivers of meat.”
  8. “Food is much better value than at competitor Neptunes Net which is super far down the PCH, where $17 gets you a big basket of fries and only a little fish.”
  9. “even planned a suprise birthday party for him there since we loved the food and it had a lot of sentimental value.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “This is a great place to come to after a long day at the beach.”
3 Star Rating: Average

08/07/11

Great Food Bad Service

by pruplesunshine5757

The food is great! but the service is super bad. The bathroom is not clean, so if you visit use the bathroom at home.

Both service and management to bad "No Customer Service." It is clear that people do not like to work there.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/24/11

Fish every which way

by Tnewton

I think I have tried almost everything on the menu! Fish Tacos, Cajun style, shrimp....you name it all good! Extremely laid back atmosphere. Can come straight from the beach and not worry about appearances, but enjoy a great meal. Still a cool place in Malibu to hang out!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/20/09

Great Atmosphere; great Meal

by Hubba Bubba

The atmosphere is loads of fun, especially for ocean-going types, casual but clever. The food is prepared fresh. Nobody makes as incredible cole slaw - I toss most other types, but I eat all of this! The Reel Potatoes are worth going for alone, but I usually get half rice and half potatoes because they are both great. the portions are large. I have never had a bad meal there, ever.

  • Pros: Big selection of fish, delicious side dishes
  • Cons: Kinda hard to find parking most days
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/20/09

BE CARE FULL

by 1GOODFOOD

OUT SIDE PATIO BE CAREFULL THIS PLACE IS NOT CLEAN . THE REST ROOMS HAVE A ODER THAT GOES THUR THE PLACE

THE MANAGMENT CAN BE VERY NASTY

  • Pros: GOOD FISH
  • Cons: THE MANAGMENT
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/18/09

CAJUN STYLE

by mj1523

Sea Bass Salmon Mahi Mahi ALL SO GOOD WHEN IT'S CAJUN STYLE. Very good food. I visit this place twice a month if not more.

  • Pros: FRESHNESS
  • Cons: LOCATION

The Details on Reel Inn Fresh Fish Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • fresh seafood
  • order fried food
  • great place
  • great rustic atmosphere
  • favorite bad rice
  • loves fish tacos
  • reasonable prices
  • great french fries
  • overpriced terrible
  • not clean restaurant
  • worst calamari
  • cold beer
  • great cheese
  • never bad meal
  • great fresh lettuce
  • incredible cole slaw
  • sketchy exterior
  • beautiful malibu
  • best little places
  • order grab
  • worst fish
  • favorite tossed salad
  • enjoyed dear old aunt
  • full care
  • fresh cheap fish
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